TV and film is a proven driver of tourism interest and Sweden is once again in the spotlight with the recent third season debut of “Vikings: Valhalla” on Netflix, a show that has rated in the network’s top 10 since its 2021 debut. With this in mind, Visit Sweden as has curated a lengthy list of sites and experiences to inspire fans who want to delve into Viking history in the epicentre of the Norseman’s world.
Italy’s ancient Roman Appian Way has been admitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming the country’s 60th entry on the list. At more than 800 km. long, the Appian Way, known as the “Queen of Roads,” is the oldest and most important of the great roads built by the Ancient Romans from 312 B.C.
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and boasting 12 distinct microclimates, Costa Rica provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and volcanic peaks.
It was big news for a big state: Texas is getting its own Michelin guide. The welcome development for Travel Texas broke as representatives from the state visited Canada last week, talking up and recent developments and current trends in the Lone Star state in both Montreal and Toronto.
Toronto-based Siren Communications has been named the Canadian public relations Agency of Record (AOR) for Los Cabos, which bills itself as Mexico’s fastest growing destination. Siren will oversee a “robust” fall campaign designed to attract more visitors from this country to the Pacific resort destination with a focus on key pillars of wellness, gastronomy, sustainability and adventure.
“The notion of connection is one of the biggest reasons why ECHO is important”, says Writer and Director Mukhtar Omar Sharif Mukhtar of the new Cirque du Soleil production currently performing in Toronto, perhaps that is why DT Minich, President/CEO at Experience Kissimmee and his team chose ECHO to conclude a busy week in Toronto meeting and connecting with associates, partners and media, before, finally, relaxing at a casual get together to gasp at a spectacular performance of ECHO.
Canadian interest in The Islands of Tahiti and overall tourism to the destination from Canada has been surging in 2024, with visitations already up 6.3% YTD versus last year. And Tahiti Tourisme is expecting a further wave of enthusiasm as host of the Summer Olympics’ surfing competition.
Wales is in the spotlight this week in Canada as Wrexham FC arrives to play the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday (July 27). The team, co-owned by Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds, and featured in the documentary series ‘Welcome to Wrexham,’ has become a global phenomenon as the team channels its Hollywood ownership with success on the field, rising from non-league football/soccer to Britain’s League One in just a couple of years.
“Liverpool is the place that changed the face of music forever,” declared tour guide Jay as we rolled out on The Beatles-inspired Magical Mystery Tour to discover where the world’s most famous rock band first found fame. Boarding the technicolour tour bus at the city’s Albert Dock, a drumbeat signified the start of the two-hour tour and instantly put everyone into a Fab Four frame of mind.
Tourism partners in the Caribbean have come together to promote crisis protocols in the event of hurricanes, pandemics, or other natural disasters, with the aim of improving the safety and health of visitors, residents, and stakeholders.
Sure, Washington DC is the capital of the US, and its politics permeate every aspect of most people’s lives – even Canadians – but there’s so much more to the city that gives it its own unique charm that Canadian travellers may not be aware of. Here are 10 unique things that visitors can see and do in the District of Columbia that focus on the city’s vibrant blend of art, culture, food, and urban parks – all beyond the political façade.
In a blow to selfie-inspired tourism, authorities in Mexico have slapped a “closure” order on a 3-metre aquatic statue of the Greek god of the sea Poseidon that was erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico just off the town of Progreso, Yucatan. In the few months it has been up, tourists have gathered to take pictures of themselves with it as a striking background.
Perhaps it’s time to rethink next year’s holidays plans. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a major tourism site being constructed on the country’s eastern coast and discussed steps to open the zone by 2025, state media reported Thursday, though the country still blocks visits by most foreign tourists.
Great waterfronts help make great cities, for both residents and tourists who might be inclined to visit. But, clogged with condos, chocked by construction and traffic, and cut off by the crumbling Gardiner Expressway, it’s clear to anyone that Toronto doesn’t have one.
Buckingham Palace’s summer opening of its state rooms has now begun, this year featuring the East Wing opens for the first time. The East Wing encompasses the famous façade of the London Palace and features the iconic central balcony, where the Monarch and members of the Royal Family have gathered for public appearances since 1851, most recently for Trooping the Colour in June.
Air Transat will launch two non-stop seasonal routes to Tulum, Mexico, from Montreal and Quebec City starting in December. Tulum joins four other destinations in Mexico served by Air Transat: Acapulco, Cancún, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta.
The pet rail project of Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador could wind up costing as much as US$30 billion, is only half finished as he heads into the final two months of his term, and has wreaked major damage on the environment. But the most damning judgment on the Maya Train tourist line, is that only about 1,200 people per day use it when the government had originally promised the train would carry between 22,000 and 37,000 daily.
From new theme park attractions and star-studded soccer games to cultural festivals celebrating food and music, Orlando is promising a full agenda of for visitors this summer. Not to mention great deals that range to from 20 percent off airfare to free hotel nights.
Many of New Brunswick’s main tourism attractions suffered a significant downturn last year, so much so that a local mayor is calling on the province to start marketing cool coastal areas as a place to go to beat global warming.
Venice on Sunday wrapped up a pilot program charging day-trippers an entrance fee, more than €2 million ($3 million) richer and determined to not only extend the levy but double it next year. However, opponents in the fragile Italian lagoon city say the €5 ($5.45) levy has failed to deter visitors on peak days, as envisioned.
Later this year, The FRIENDS Experience will debut its West Coast flagship location in Las Vegas at MGM Grand. “The One in Vegas” transports guests into the world of the popular TV show allowing fans to explore the series’ iconic moments, behind-the-scenes content, and photo opportunities within life-sized set recreations.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is forecasting a historic year for Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector in 2024, with the economic contribution set to reach an all-time high of almost $182 billion – a figure that exceeds the previous peak by $8.1 billion and generating one in every 15 dollars of economic activity.
Fifty-two years and 39 Italian governments after it was first envisioned, Milan’s Brera Modern will be inaugurated in the fall, officials have promised. An extension of the famed Pinacoteca di Brera, the new museum will house more than 100 contemporary art works that belong to Brera’s collection that have mostly been relegated to storage.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) reports that southern Caribbean destination’s airport, hotels and attractions are fully operational on the “resilient” main island – as well as the cruise port, where Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Sea arrived yesterday (Tuesday) with over 2,300 passengers. But Carriacou and Petite Martinique suffered “catastrophic damage” and are desperately in need of aid.
It had been three years and eight months since I was last in Nassau. I can say that with definitiveness thanks to the cheery “welcome back” message I received on my WiFi log-in at the Grand Hyatt recently that indicated as much – although I would have recalled the precise timing of the visit since it was my last travel trip just before the pandemic struck. A lot has changed in the Bahamian capital in that time.
A growing demand for connections to Greenland – including tourism – has helped get weekly direct flights between Iqaluit and Nuuk off the ground this summer. But concerns remain about the sustainability of the flight to the Greenland’s largest city from Canada, which was cancelled in 2015 due to low ridership.
As Amsterdam limits cruise ships (see story below) and Barcelonians squirt water at tourists while shouting “go home,” Copenhagen is introducing a novel approach to tackling sustainable tourism: paying tourists to do it. “CopenPay” rewards visitors’ climate-friendly actions – like cycling, participating in clean-up efforts, or volunteering at an urban farm – into currency to be used for cultural experiences in the city.
Visit Orlando has launched a suite of enhanced websites to promote the Orlando region to all audiences – domestic and international leisure visitors, meeting planners, meeting attendees, travel professionals and more. The include VisitOrlando.com, OrlandoMeeting.com, VisitOrlando.org, MagicalDining.com and French-Canadian sites.
In a measure to combat over-tourism, Amsterdam will reduce number of sea cruises calling in the Dutch city by almost half in 2026, while aiming for its cruise terminal to leave the city altogether by 2035. The number of sea cruises that moor at the Passengers Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) will drop from 190 to a maximum of 100 per year and the PTA will also immediately return to one berth and cruise ships required to use shore power by 2027.
New figures show that Scotland experienced a record-breaking influx of international visitors in 2023, welcoming 3.9 million tourists, marking a 15% increase from 2019. The 2023 International Passenger Survey by the Office of National Statistics showed a significant 23% increase from 2022, which saw 3.2 million visitors, and the previous record was set in 2018 with 3.7 million visitors.